Debt free by 30? 6 months to go!

loumac

Well update on my challenge for end of April.

After many bank holidays I can now see what payments I have and haven't made. However, after two weeks holiday, 4 day bank holiday weekend, a wedding and some car repairs the month hasn't gone quite as planned.

Debt payments:
£181.94 to loan.
£225.00 to credit card.
£50 to in-laws.

In laws payments have now reduced from £200 as we're using extra for savings ready for deposits etc on new home. Underpayments this month of £125.00 (balanced against a little extra on the c card).

However, we do have £1,036.80 in the savings pot, which if I added it to total debt payments so far this year I'd be at 43.31% of my debt total at the start of the year. So close and yet so far...

My aims for being debt free before 30 (birthday June 9th) were perhaps optimistic but if I'm realistic I haven't made any drastic changes to my lifestyle and tried very hard! In particular with planning to move house and preparing for baby this has meant I needed to spend more money than first thought.

I am though very pleased that even with all those things I am still chipping away at those debts and trying hard not to build them up! :cool:

mum2one

Your doing brilliantly, ok you may not it the June target, but just think that if you hadn't of had the lightbulb moment, it would be going the opposiate direction.
with the baby on the way, the house move, can't believe how much you have done.
Have a last fire at making sure you have joined every babyclub as possible, and I know at the mo Boots do 10points in £1 for parenting club. When DD was a baby, I use to do a monthly Boots shop - nappies, wipes, food etc, and then top up as needed, this way meant could keep a better idea on the spends.

hope u don't think I'm being cheeky, but do you have a Poundland near you, the best thing i ever got for DD, and if anyone is expecting always put one in the parcel, - fold up changing mat. Would say grab a couple. With me the main posh padded one was upstairs on the unit, then keep the lightweight one downstairs and the second in her bag, so whilst out - even if the venue had baby changing unit, there would really be wipes, and you couldn't chance anyone before had wipe down, this just gave piece of mind.

I found with nappies
Boots own brand - small sizing
tesco - was ok
Huggies - were bit hit and miss
Pampers - we got on better with them,

Pull ups - went back to Huggies pull ups, they were brilliant.

Its trial and error.

Just another thought (sorry brain working overtime)

when you have the hospital list - eg says 60 nappies - as a lot of hospitals don't supply any, but bring in about 20, and you can always get hubby etc to bring any in, as you only one locker, and there not very big.

showers - I found the best time to head for a shower was before 7am or after 10am, as once breakfast had been served, everyone rushed to the showers, if you can hang on for a bit and about 10, less hassle.

The labour bag - what i did with mine was have a set of clean nightwear, few toilettries, towel - unless your in before hand, - ur wiped in labour ward and moved across, your belongings come with you - easier to have a lightbag with just the essentials in.

Check if you can take snacks + drinks in for you both, sometimes you don't quite fancy hospital food, and again depending on time, you may be the next days food xx

loumac

Wow! :eek: Ha! Thank you sooooo much, that genuinely is a really helpful list of things. It's all the little practical things I feel I don't know where to start with.

Will print that one I think so I can read it again and check things off!!

mum2one

Glad you didn't mind me being cheeky with the baby list, sometimes its the sillest of things which bring the memories back, and for me it was 60 nappies on the hospital list.
Hows the cravings going, have you had hubby up yet in the middle of the ngt!! x

loumac

mum2one wrote: »

Hows the cravings going, have you had hubby up yet in the middle of the ngt!! x

Not up in the middle of the night but I do 'expect' some form of chocolate following my dinner every evening! Not good I know so he does tend to ignore me.

Funny evening for me, have had my dad on the phone, then my step mum then spent about 45 minutes talking to my ex best friend on facebook instant messenger (ex because she didn't want to know me) and then spent an hour and a half talking to my step sister (estranged for 3 years, think I've mentioned her before) on instant messenger too. Emotionally drained.com.

Just been to vote, can't think anymore so time for bed I feel.

sazzle81

Hi Loumac,
Just busy catching up with everyones diaries. Have had a majo blow out the past few months with the mind set of "once in a lifetime holiday"!! Glad to hear everything is going well with you although sorry to hear about your parents.
How's the flat sale going?

loumac

Hi sazzle, lovely to see you back! Glad to read that honeymoon went well.

We may actually be making progress on the flat ... We've found someone who wants ours with a potential move in date of the 10th June (day after the big 30th birthday!) and we've applied for one that we want though not available until the 25th June. We had a bit of a drama as they were only prepared to let to us for 6 months leaving us moving house at christmas with a 2 month old baby but at last they've said 12 months. Yay! Fingers crossed.

Off to write reports for now ... student teacher is doing most of my teaching and marking which does leave me a few more free evenings. All good!

mum2one

sazzle81 wrote: »

Hi Loumac,
Just busy catching up with everyones diaries. Have had a majo blow out the past few months with the mind set of "once in a lifetime holiday"!! Glad to hear everything is going well with you although sorry to hear about your parents.
How's the flat sale going?

Good for u having a blowout on holiday, esp once in a lifetime, xx

mum2one

loumac wrote: »

Hi sazzle, lovely to see you back! Glad to read that honeymoon went well.

We may actually be making progress on the flat ... We've found someone who wants ours with a potential move in date of the 10th June (day after the big 30th birthday!) and we've applied for one that we want though not available until the 25th June. We had a bit of a drama as they were only prepared to let to us for 6 months leaving us moving house at christmas with a 2 month old baby but at last they've said 12 months. Yay! Fingers crossed.

Off to write reports for now ... student teacher is doing most of my teaching and marking which does leave me a few more free evenings. All good!

Thats brilliant on all directions, xx

loumac

Another week gone already! I can't believe it's only 2 more working weeks and it's half term again. Easter only seemed five minutes ago...

DH is playing cricket all day today so I have the house to myself. I've so far had an hour and a half walk with the dog, had a 40 minute power nap and then popped to the shops for some toiletries. £26 spent in boots. Oops! But easily done... Am now diary writing instead of doing either the house work or any school work.

We've had a confirmed date of the 24th June to be able to move into the new house. Am still waiting to find out when the couple want to move into ours though so we're hoping that the dates match up! Could really do without having to move in with either set of parents....